Doctor Who: The Woman Who Lived

We're back, sorry I've been a little more quiet than usual this week.  Work got in the way along with a cold that won't give up.  Anyway its time for "The Woman Who Lived".  Ashildr is back.  In England, 1651. A deadly highwayman known only as 'The Nightmare' plagues the dark streets of London, his fire-breathing accomplice by his side. There's something clearly more than human here, and that includes the loot as much as the outlaws. Who are these creatures, and are they enemies to be fought, or friends who might possibly save the Doctor from certain doom on the gallows?

• Fake voice?
• Really?  Screaming because of a little eye shine?
• Fish in the Night?
• Where is Clara?  Taking Taekwondo?
• Why doesn't she know her name?  Oh I see
• Is that a PKE meter?  Egon would be proud
• She cured Scarlet Fever?  Scarlet Fever sucks...I know
• Incredible clever?  Sounds a bit like Clara
• What did you do Doctor?
• She is evil?  Oh the Doctor will be so very sad
• Everyone wears masks Doctor, everyone
• How does she know these things?
• Was that a Thundercat?
• Oh good grief, the sonic glasses still?
• Even back then guys has to sleep on the couch?
• He's lost too many "Me"
• "No not the puns.  Line in the sand.  No puns." -The Doctor
• Wouldn't be good?  Really Doctor?  That is your reason?
• Thunder, thunder, thunder, thunder cats HO!
• Is that the Beast from Beauty and the Beast?  Ron Perlman is that you?
• The Doctor does make weapons and bad guys everywhere he goes doesn't he?
• Is she going to open the Oblivion Gates?
• So she isn't immortal?  I'm confused
• Wait, the Doctor is wanted...again?
• 20 pounds?  THEY'LL BE RICH!
• See, puns are going to get you killed Doctor
• Uggg, really?  Goodbye Thundercat
• CAPTAIN JACK!!

I wonder if Ashildr will be back.  An interesting episode for sure.  Obviously setting up things to come with the Doctor and Clara.  I like this Doctor I really do.  He is different then 9 - 12 but you see glimpses of each in him.  I also like that they have him keeping doing little call back to other version of himself with a phrase here or a look there.  I felt like in modern Who they forgot the past when a new Doctor came along.  This time they seem to be calling back to all the Doctors from the past.

This episode in vacuum was not that great.  When looked at from the series story arc I think we'll find it much better.  When I say "this episode" I mean last weeks and this week.  It is really one 90 minute episode.  The only time I'd go back and watch these episodes would be if I was rewatching the season.  

I'm going to hold complete judgment for the when the season (or half way point because I think this storyline will conclude prior to Christmas or with the Christmas episode).  However I want to say three things.

1.  The Doctor is correct about puns

2.  The Doctor is wrong about banter

3.  The Doctor needs to get rid of the sunglasses!

Until next time...Abyssinia!!

Everything wrong with sports fans...a rant

I am writing this not as a University of Michigan​ fan but as a sports fan.  I recently watched a little rant that Jemele Hill had about the recent MSU/UM game.  Let me say that I've pretty much stopped watching "real" sports because of fans like Jemele.  "Look, you can believe we were lucky," Hill said. "You can call it a miracle. I really don't give a damn."   "Only two things matter: We're undefeated, and you, Michigan, have now lost to us seven of the last eight times...Turn up the volume real high and let these three words resonate: We own you."  The problem is she starts off complaining about Michigan fans mocking a MSU degree and how everyone was talking about the new UM coach.  Then show a video of a Michigan fan crying and have stupid memes in the background.  She is exactly the type of fan that she was complaining about earlier.  She is right that it doesn't matter if they won on the first play or the last play, at the end of the day MSU won and good for them.  I hope they go undefeated and win the National Title.  However next time I'd hope that someone who represents a University would have some dignity and respect, especially on a nationally broadcast TV/Radio show.  If Rich Eisen did this after a UM win I'd say the same thing.  I'd say it if a former New England Patriots​ player said it after their win against the Colts this past week.  "We. Own. You."  Jemele Hill YOU don't OWN anyone.  You're not on the field.  If you want to be honest lets look at the overall series.  Michigan leads, 68–35–5.  Who owns who in reality?  Michigan went 30–8 from 1970 to 2007.  But right now MSU has had won 7 out of the last 8 and good for them!  A few by a lot I believe.  Good for them.  I hate fans like this.  I hate sports fans in general because of attitudes like this.  Fans who constantly complain the other team cheated if their team lost.  The refs won that game for the other team.  Fandom is one thing, stupidity and immaturity is another.  If this was done as a joke, I can see Mike & Mike doing something like this to each other or two personality who have a joking/friendly relationship but this wasn't done that way.  This was a famous alumni being a fanboy/homer and looking (in my opinion) like a fool.  I know people will think it was because she is all Green & White but it really isn't.  The only time I don't cheer for MSU is when they play Michigan AND if their win would hurt Michigan late in the season.  Jemele Hill, there is a phrase in sports, from Vince Lombardi.  "Next time you make a touchdown, act like you've been there before."  Jemele Hill, next time your team gets a major victory over a team that was favored and out played you, act like you've been there before.  Good luck MSU, as for you Jemele Hill, remember, 68–35–5...  What is worst is she could have used this time to talk about how fans shouldn't have been trashing the punter who screwed up.  Talked about how rivalries are out of control with the painting of Magic Johnsons statue (something that I don't condone and she did briefly bring up).  She could have pointed out how great MSU was for not giving up and used this as an inspirational story of them not caring about what the "experts" said.  All the while talking up MSU but instead she used it to tear down others.  This is why sports fans...and honestly humanity makes me sick!  Jemele Hill I'll leave you with this:  You can never build yourself up by tearing others down

As I was looking for the above picture I found this from 2008 which cements my opinions.

“Rooting for the Celtics is like saying Hitler was a victim. It’s like hoping Gorbachev would get to the blinking red button before Reagan.”

“In expressing my passion for the NBA and my hometown of Detroit I showed very poor judgment in the words I used,”

I realize that Jemele Hill won't see this and most people won't read it.  But sports can bring a group of people together...or used to.  Remember after 9-11?  People came together in sports.  Sports can be a great escape but you have people saying stuff like this.  Fans attacking other fans.  Priest pointing guns at children all over sports.  Perhaps we'd be better of ending them all and putting all the money spent on sports stadiums and others into things like libraries and education!

The Walking Dead: JSS: A Review

Episode 2 of the Season 6 is here and it is titled JSS.  The description on IMDB kind of ruins the episode so I won't put it here but there is hope that Carl dies!  Last week Rick's "awesome" nearly got Glenn, Heath and Nick killed.  Carter did get killed.  Then a mystery horn blew and a quarry full of walkers are now headed toward Carl, Maggie, Carol and the rest of Alexandria.  My guess is baby Judith is going to pull a Kirby and suck all the bad guys in and eat them.  It is because baby Judith is FAT!  A FAT FAT BABY!  Okay enough with my obviously joking (mostly joking) ideas of what is to come, lets get to episode 2...JSS!

• To start off on a sexist comment, did they leave all of the women back in Alexandria?  Well ladies and Carl
• Wait, why isn't THIS flashback in black and white?
• What is JSS?  
• How is a turtle still alive?  They should be like Unicorn!
• Oh turtle....
• She looks like a walker the way she is feeding
• I don't trust Enid...
• This is a flash back to the quarry season in Season 1 almost
• Uggg, I hate Carol almost as much as Carl, such a bitch
• Where is Aaron and his boyfriend in all of this?
• Deanna is hard to look at, she is quite weathered
• SWEET ASS GAME ROOM!  All Eugene's are practical....and a game room is practical!
• They have a video baby monitor?  What kind of end of the world is this?
• OH SHIT!  Smoking does get you killed!
• DROP AND ROLL!!
• Did she just say that is how we were able to....?  DON'T TRUST HER CARL!
• Did they capture someone?  
• Why didn't Carol try to save her?  And how did the lookouts not see any of these people?
• Oh that is the horn...it wasn't on purpose
• Why isn't Aaron and company out fighting
• MORGAN!
• Is that Luke Harper?  
• I don't get the chopping up thing
• How dumb are you Carl?  
• Are all teenagers morons in the Apocalypse?
• Motherly instinct?
• The outbreak must be pre-2001 as that lady has knitting needles on the plane (Fear the Walking Dead Flight whatever comment)
• That is why I like Morgan, he still has humanity
• Ugg, really?  Blood splatter on the camera?  
• Chaos due to fear
• Is it fair to say all of this is Rick's fault with his stupid ass plan?
• Kevin Smith on Talking Dead, yes please!  He is one of the better guests
• Is Carol waiting for her to turn?
• Is it that easy to stab someone through the head?  
• Aren't those Aaron's pictures?
• Was that his backpack?
• Story sync confirmed it was Aaron's backpack...from when they were trapped in the car.  So I guess Aaron and Rick share the blame
• OH NO!  NO NO NO!  Morgan be careful....Oh not what I thought was going to happen
• How did Morgan get back so quickly?

WOW!  Good grief did you see that?  That was a great episode!  One of my favorite episodes!  Once the episode started with the random killing from the Wolves it was nonstop awesome.  

I don't have a lot of complaints this season. There was no lapses in logic from what the show has done in the past.  Perfect mix of action and storytelling.  

I think it will be interesting to see where this goes.  I don't trust Edin at all, I think she is with the Wolves.  Carol's secret is out now...well maybe...a lot of the people are dead.  The towns people still have no idea thousands of walkers are heading their way.  They are in a lot of trouble.  I blame Rick and Aaron for ALL of this.  

Wait....did Kevin Smith just tell me what JSS means?  Just Survive Somehow?  How did he know that?  Oh...the note...how did I miss that?  I failed when I missed that.  LOVE THE EPISODE!

Doctor Who: The Girl who Died: A Revew

Doctor Who is back and so am I boys and girls.  Time to watch the Girl who Died, episode 5 of this season.  The Girl who Died guest staring Maisie Williams.  I wonder if this is going to be yet another two parter.  Probably, seems to be the season standard.  Enough talking, lets go watch a girl die!

• Love sprite?
• Wait...the love sprite eats brains?  That actually makes a lot of sense
• Rules?  You don't care about the rules Clara, you've said so
• Good, I hate those stupid glasses!
• Hey its that one character who isn't dead in Game of Thrones!  You know, one of like 3 who haven't died yet
• Oh the Doctor is doing the angry voice!
• Girls don't go to Vahalla do they? 
• Well Clara is dead again
• Is that goo people?
• Oh not quite people...but close
• He does speak baby
• I think that is how the Chicago fire started too
• Did Clara get a hair cut?
• Is Clara bisexual?  
• Eels?  GROSS!
• Those are some ugly bad guys!
• Oh that is going onto youtube!
• The helmet was too heavy?  It melted her mind?
• Is that the first time #12 said sorry?
• Devros was right when he said the Doctor uses people and turns them into weapons
• Devors:  The man who abhors violence, never carrying a gun, but this is the truth, Doctor: you take ordinary people and you fashion them into weapons... behold your Children of Time, transformed into murderers. I made the Daleks, Doctor, you made this. 
• So The Doctor acknowledged that he picked the faces he uses, interesting
• Wait...did he just make her immortal?
• She is the female Capt. Jack?
• Doctor...what have you done?

Yep a damn two parter again.  I know this is what Doctor Who used to be, longer multiple part episodes but I'm not a fan of it all the time.  Occasionally is okay but I don't like multiple times in a season.  Season Finale fine.  Mid Season break okay.  Every two episode not cool.  

Okay what about this episode?  I liked it.  Well I like that the Doctor is realizing what it is he does and is almost becoming self aware of himself.  I feel like this continues the end of #10 where he didn't believe he had to follow the rules.  

Next week Doctor Who returns with "The Woman who Lived".  Until next time Abyssinia!

If I were President....

In the past I've joked about running for President of the United States.  This actually goes all the way back to when I was in 7th grade.  Mr. Hylen, the Choir Director, made us fill out cards with info on us and what we wanted to be when we grew up.  I put down President.

Obviously that didn't work out as I didn't go into politics but I still joke about it.  Yesterday I drove around 5 hours so I had a lot of time on my hands.  One thing that went through my head was what would I run on.  I haven't done a true blog entry in a while, only reviews, so here is what I would try to do.

1. The first thing I would focus on is gun control.  Obviously taking guns away isn't an option so what do you do?  How do you fix this epidemic of gun violence facing this country?  I would do this, treat guns like cars.  You need to have the following to own a gun.  You take a gun safety course.  You take a written test.  You carry insurance just like with a car.  You have a yearly license.  If you want to buy a gun, bullets, the material used to make bullets...really anything gun related you have a license.  This license would not be expensive.  50-100 dollars a year.  Now what would happen to those license fees you ask?  It would go into a fund for LOCAL mental health services.  This way both sides of the debate are happy.  We have some better gun control PLUS mental health gets looked at
2. The next two are tied together.  Something needs to be done about the student loan debt crisis.  We are the most powerful country in the world and it costs some people a quarter of a million dollars to get educated.  It shouldn't be that way.  All education should be free and student loan debt forgiven.  But how would you do that?  See #3
3. Legalize Cannabis.  Colorado is bring in over 3 millions dollars a month in taxes.  I would take all that money along with what is already being funneled into the higher education system.  I would investigate how other countries are able to handle their higher education and fix this issue.  We should be able to education our society.  
4. While "Obamacare" is a nice start we need to go further.  There are still people out there having to decide between rent and medicine.  We need to continue toward Canada with health care. When medicines for cancer and Alzheimer can cost upward of a $1000 dollars a month there is something wrong.  We can do better for our citizens, especially the elder who built this country
5. I would end tax exempt status for Religious organizations.  When they start making donations to things like Proposition 8 and the like they are no longer tax exempt.  They will be paying taxes just like all other businesses, because that is what they are at this point.  I would funnel that new revenue into education and social services, where ALL of the churches money should be going anyway
6. Congress would be paid hourly for when they are working.  That means that if they are home campaigning they don't get paid.  If they are fundraising they aren't working and don't get paid. They need to be doing their JOB, trying to make this country better and doing what their voters want.  Same goes for the President.  If you're out golfing you don't get paid.  Find out what the average workers gets for paid time off and that is what Congress and the President gets.  They should be treated as the people they represent.  Also all elected officials would be put on the same medical coverage that the government is offering to its citizens.  Perhaps THEN #4 would get worked on better.

There you go.  That is what I would run on if I were running for President.  I realize that even if I did run and I did get elected that doesn't mean any of this would happen.  It isn't as easy as just saying I'm going to do it and then doing it.  I believe what I've laid out above (minus #5) is what the general public wants.  I would also try to be a President of the people, meet more with the public in town halls and the like.  Find out what THEY want and try to make THAT happen.  I believe that I would be a man of the people for the people....even if I hate most people ;)


Until next time, this is NOT your future President of the United States saying...Abyssinia!